U.S. Consumer Attitudes Toward Food Biotechnology
Wirthlin Group Quorum Surveys
Funded by the International Food Information Council (IFIC) see
note below*
February 5-8, 1999 and March 21-24, 1997
Method
Approximately 1000 telephone interviews were conducted in both 1997 and 1999 among a national probability sample of adults 18 and older (stratified by state) in the continental United States. The range of error for a sample size of 1000 is +/- 3% at the 95% confidence level.
| 1. As you may know, some food products and medicines are being developed with the help of new scientific techniques. The general area is called "biotechnology" and includes tools such as genetic engineering. Biotechnology is also being used to improve crop plants. How much have you heard or read about biotechnology? Would you say you have read or heard . . . ? |
1997 |
1999 |
|
|
Total read or heard |
79% |
69% |
|
|
A lot |
11% |
7% |
|
|
Some |
35% |
26% |
|
|
A little |
32% |
36% |
|
|
Nothing at all |
21% |
31% |
|
|
Don't know/refused |
- |
- |
| 2. Now, using a
10-point scale, how well informed would you say you are about
biotechnology, if zero means you are not at all informed about
biotechnology and ten means you are very well informed about
biotechnology.
(Question 2 was not used in the 1997 survey. No trend to follow.) |
10 | 2% |
| 9 | 0% | |
| 8 | 3% | |
| 7 | 4% | |
| 6 | 3% | |
| 5 | 9% | |
| 4 | 6% | |
| 3 | 16% | |
| 2 | 16% | |
| 1 | 39% | |
| Don't know/refused | 1% |
| 3. As far as you know, are there any foods produced through biotechnology in the supermarket now? |
1997 |
1999 |
|
|
Yes |
40% |
33% |
|
|
No |
37% |
47% |
|
|
Don't know/refused |
23% |
20% |
| 3A.
If yes, which foods? A total of 331 out of 1,000
participants responded. Total percentages are greater than
100% because multiple answers were given.
(New question for 1999 survey). |
Vegetables |
29% (96) |
Soy |
3% (10) |
|
Tomatoes |
20% (66) |
Cheese |
2% (7) |
|
|
Fruits |
16% (53) |
Yogurt |
2% (6) |
|
|
Meats |
16% (52) |
Eggs |
2% (6) |
|
|
Processed Cheese |
11% (38) |
Cucumbers |
2% (6) |
|
|
Milk/Dairy |
9% (30) |
Strawberries |
1% (3) |
|
|
Cereals/Grains |
8% (28) |
Apples |
1% (3) |
|
|
Corn |
6% (18) |
Grapes |
1% (2) |
|
|
Lettuce |
4% (14) |
Melons |
1% (2) |
|
|
Potatoes |
3% (10) |
Bananas |
1% (2) |
| 4. All things being equal, how likely would you be to buy a variety of produce, like tomatoes or potatoes, if it had been modified by biotechnology to taste better or fresher? Would you be very likely, somewhat likely, not too likely, or not at all likely to buy these items? |
1997 |
1999 |
|
|
Total Likely |
55% |
62% |
|
|
Very likely |
19% |
20% |
|
|
Somewhat likely |
36% |
42% |
|
|
Total Not Likely |
43% |
37% |
|
|
Not too likely |
21% |
18% |
|
|
Not at all likely |
22% |
19% |
|
|
Don't know/refused |
2% |
1% |
| 5. All things being equal, how likely would you be to buy a variety of produce, like tomatoes or potatoes, if it had been modified by biotechnology to be protected from insect damage and required fewer pesticide applications? Would you be very likely, somewhat likely, not too likely, or not at all likely to buy these items? |
1997 |
1999 |
|
|
Total Likely |
77% |
77% |
|
|
Very likely |
39% |
34% |
|
|
Somewhat likely |
38% |
43% |
|
|
Total Not Likely |
23% |
21% |
|
|
Not too likely |
11% |
11% |
|
|
Not at all likely |
12% |
10% |
|
|
Don't know/refused |
1% |
2% |
| 6. Biotechnology has also been used to enhance plants that yield foods like cooking oils. If cooking oil with reduced saturated fat made from these new plants was available, what effect would the use of biotechnology have on your decision to buy this cooking oil. Would this have a positive effect, a negative effect, or no effect on your purchase decision? (New question for 1999) |
1999 |
|
|
Positive effect |
57% |
|
|
Negative effect |
10% |
|
|
No effect |
32% |
|
|
Don't know/refused |
1% |
| 7. Do you feel that biotechnology will provide benefits for you or your family within the next five years? |
1997 |
1999 |
|
|
Yes |
78% |
75% |
|
|
No |
14% |
15% |
|
|
Don't know/refused |
8% |
10% |
| 8. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires special labeling when a food is produced under certain conditions: when biotechnology's use introduces an allergen or when it substantially changes the food's nutritional content, like vitamins or fat, or its composition. Otherwise special labeling is not required. Would you say that you support or oppose this policy of FDA? |
1997 |
1999 |
|
|
Total support |
78% |
78% |
|
|
Strongly support |
45% |
50% |
|
|
Somewhat support |
33% |
28% |
|
|
Total oppose |
20% |
19% |
|
|
Somewhat oppose |
9% |
9% |
|
|
Strongly oppose |
11% |
10% |
|
|
Don't know/refused |
1% |
3% |
| 9. Some critics of the U.S. FDA policy say that any food produced through biotechnology should be labeled even if the food has the same safety and nutritional content as other foods. However, others, including the FDA, believe such a labeling requirement has no scientific basis, and would be costly and confusing to consumers. Are you more likely to agree with the labeling position of the FDA or with its critics? |
1997 |
1999 |
|
|
FDA |
57% |
58% |
|
|
Critics` |
40% |
37% |
|
|
Don't know/refused |
3% |
5% |
FOOD BIOTECHNOLOGY Survey Questionnaire 3/1/99
*Mindfully.org Note:
IFIC is a public relations (PR) organization funded by junk (and toxic) food companies and chemical companies. Fortunately, a growing number of people understand that information supplied by IFIC often comes directly or indirectly from the manufacturer and is often blatently and provably inaccurate. The company which conducted the *carefully-worded* survey, Wirthlin Group, prides itself on being "the exclusive research supplier to Burson-Marsteller, the world's largest public relations agency." Burson-Marseller (BM) is Monsanto's PR firm known for hiring the FDA Commissioner has a high-paid consultant soon after he approved NutraSweet. (BM is also the registrant of the nutrasweet.com web page.) Wirthlin is conducting research to determine ways to manipulate consumers and lawmakers in Europe and the U.S. Of course, they do not put the description of their "research" quite like that, but that is the gist of their research in my opinion. They recently won the Olgivy Award for "research excellence in support of creative and successful advertising campaign." It looks like Monsanto and their well-paid associates are sparing no expense to create an inaccurate image of genetically-manipulated foods.Wirthlin Worldwide has conducted research for many of the world's largest corporations, including over two-thirds of the top 100 Fortune companies. The firm also serves industry associations, government agencies, political candidates, nonprofit organizations, consulting firms and advertising agencies. Wirthlin Worldwide has twice earned the Advertising Research Foundation's prestigious David Ogilvy Award for excellence in research contributing to successful advertising campaigns, in 1997 and again in 1999. source: http://www.wirthlin.com/aboutww/mainabou.htm
source: http://ificinfo.health.org/press/quest.htm 3mar01
|
If you have come to this page from an outside location click here to get back to mindfully.org |
